bullyxtreme Chapter 92 Morning Meeting
Chapter 92 Morning Meeting
Before dawn, Yin'e got up. Fuquan brought him a copper basin to wash up and helped him change into his court robes.
He wore a dark blue python robe with a white jade belt around his waist.
He stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at his slightly tired face in the mirror, rubbed his temples, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.
The sedan chair swayed gently through the morning mist as it made its way toward the imperial city.
There were few pedestrians on the street. Occasionally, one or two vendors carrying loads would pass by the sedan chair, their steps hurried, and they would disappear into the thin mist.
The sedan chair stopped outside the Meridian Gate.
Yin'e alighted from the sedan chair, straightened his clothes, passed through the Meridian Gate, walked across the Taihe Gate Square, and followed the white marble imperial road toward the Qianqing Palace.
The morning light slanted in from the east, casting a long shadow on him.
Several people were already standing outside the Qianqing Palace.
From afar, Yin'e spotted the Eighth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince.
He was tilting his head and talking to the fourteenth brother.
The fourteenth brother stood beside him, tall and broad-shouldered, like a solid wall.
He bent slightly over as he listened to Lao Ba speak, his face showing a serious expression, nodding occasionally.
Yin'e strode over, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled, "Eighth Brother, Fourteenth Brother, you've arrived early."
Lao Ba turned around, glanced at him, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Tenth Brother, you're here too?"
The fourteenth prince was much more enthusiastic, turning around and patting Yin'e on the shoulder: "Tenth brother, what brings you here today? I thought you were sleeping soundly at home."
Yin'e smiled but did not reply.
His gaze swept over the others outside the Qianqing Gate.
The eldest prince, Yinzhi, stood beside the stone lion at the bottom of the steps, his hands behind his back and his back straight.
He was looking in Yin'e's direction, his gaze filled with scrutiny and disdain.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, stood next to the First Prince, his head bowed, a folding fan in his hand, the fan closed, and he tapped it gently in his palm.
Several ministers from the Imperial Study, Ma Qi, Zhang Tingyu, and Tong Guowei, gathered under a pillar on the other side of the corridor, talking in hushed tones. Occasionally, they would glance up at the princes and then lower their heads again.
Yin'e noticed that there weren't many people present today, but each one of them was an important figure.
The ministers in the Imperial Study were some of the most trusted officials of Emperor Kangxi, and the princes who came all had official duties to perform.
The eldest prince was in charge of the Ministry of Justice, the fourth prince was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, the eighth prince had previously been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue but was later reassigned to the Ministry of Rites, and the fourteenth prince had just returned from an official mission in Huguang and was also summoned.
He was the only one who had no official duties, yet he was singled out by Emperor Kangxi.
Lao Ba obviously noticed this as well.
Several princes gathered together and greeted each other.
The eldest prince spoke first.
"Oh, Tenth Prince, you've come too?" A smile played on his lips. "Looks like you're now a favorite of Father Emperor."
This statement is sarcastic and subtly critical, seemingly praising but actually criticizing.
The word "celebrity" sounded completely different coming from his mouth, as if he were saying, "What makes you think you're here?"
Yin'e recognized it, and so did everyone around him.
Yin'e knew perfectly well that the eldest prince was trying to sow discord between him and others.
Last time in the imperial court, he mentioned Batu's matter in front of all the officials, causing the eldest prince to lose face in front of Emperor Kangxi. The eldest prince has always held a grudge against him.
He finally got a chance today, and it wouldn't be like his boss if he didn't make a sarcastic remark.
But Yin'e remained calm. He cupped his hands in greeting, a smile on his face, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
"Brother, you jest. I wouldn't call myself a celebrity; I'm just someone who has done my best for the court."
He paused, his gaze lingering on the eldest prince's face for a moment, "Some people are doing their best, and Father Emperor can see that."
Some people are as stupid as pigs and can't understand it, and there's nothing that can be done about that.
As soon as those four words were uttered, the surrounding princes all burst into laughter.
The fourteenth brother laughed the loudest, the laughter squeezed out of his throat, carrying a hint of undisguised pleasure.
The Eighth Prince also smiled, but his smile was much more subtle. Even the Fourth Prince's lips twitched slightly.
The eldest prince's face flushed red instantly, from his neck all the way to his forehead, as if someone had set him on fire.
His lips trembled slightly, his fists clenched in his sleeves, and he took a half step forward, looking as if he were about to fight with Yin'e.
Just then, the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, reached out a hand from the side and placed it on the First Prince's arm.
"Brother, Father is coming out soon, don't lose your composure."
The eldest prince took a deep breath and swallowed back the anger that had risen to his throat.
He glared at Yin'e, shook off the Fourth Prince's hand, turned away, and said nothing more.
Yin'e watched his retreating figure and sneered inwardly.
This eldest prince is truly straightforward.
Last time in court, he publicly exposed Xiao Guoxing, intending to drag the Crown Prince down with him, but he ended up ruining the whole thing himself.
Instead of reflecting on the problems with his strategy, he blamed himself entirely.
Such a person is brave but lacks strategy and is incapable of accomplishing great things.
The Fourth Prince shifted his gaze from the First Prince to the Fourteenth Prince.
He took two steps forward, stood in front of the fourteenth prince, cupped his hands in greeting, and showed a rare smile on his face.
"Fourteenth Brother, you must be tired from your business trip to Huguang. Come to our house tonight; your fourth sister-in-law has prepared a welcome feast for you. Let's catch up and have a good chat."
Upon hearing this, Yin'e's heart stirred slightly.
The fourth and fourteenth princes were both born to Consort De, of the Uya clan, and were full siblings, but their relationship was never considered close.
The fourth prince was raised by Empress Tongjia from a young age, and his relationship with Consort De was lukewarm, as was his relationship with the fourteenth prince.
The fourteenth prince has been aligned with the eighth prince and has been at odds with the fourth prince in the court for quite some time.
Now, the fourth brother suddenly invites the fourteenth brother alone in front of so many people, and even brings up "your fourth sister-in-law" to play the emotional card. Is this an attempt to win him over, or a test?
The fourteenth prince clearly hadn't expected the fourth prince to pull this stunt.
His expression stiffened slightly, and his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Lao Ba's direction.
Lao Ba's face was expressionless; he neither nodded nor shook his head, but simply stood there quietly.
The fourteenth brother hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist salute and forced a smile: "Then thank you very much, Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law. I will definitely be there tonight."
Yinzhen (the Fourth Prince) nodded and said nothing more.
Lao Ba remained expressionless, seemingly lost in thought.
The brothers chatted for a few more minutes, and the atmosphere seemed peaceful on the surface, but what was hidden beneath the surface was unclear to everyone.
Just then, Liang Jiugong came out of the hall.
"My lords, my lords, His Majesty invites you to come in."
The group straightened their clothes and filed in.
This time, it wasn't in the main hall of the Qianqing Palace, but in the study next to Kangxi's sleeping quarters.
The study was small, but exquisitely furnished, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on three walls, neatly stacked with all kinds of books, including classics, histories, philosophical works, and Western maps and astrolabes.
On the desk sat a gilded bronze candlestick, the candle unlit. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, casting neat streaks of light on the tabletop.
A faint scent of ambergris filled the air, mixed with the smell of ink and old paper.
Led by Liang Jiugong, everyone stood in their places in turn.
The eldest prince stood at the very front, followed by the fourth prince, the eighth prince, the fourteenth prince, and Yin'e stood at the very back, leaning against the edge of the bookshelf.
Several ministers from the Imperial Study stood on the other side, with Ma Qi at the front, Zhang Tingyu beside him, and Tong Guowei at the back.
Here, no one dared to say a word.
The study was unusually quiet.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, footsteps finally came from behind the screen.